Ventilator



Nov. 7, 1933. c. o. swANsoN VENTILAI'OR Filed May 9, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet2 I. INVENTOR BYE/9m. 0, wnNso/v MMM@ ATTORNEY VEN-TILATOR Filed May 9,1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 N ca M RW ms. .b .mm1 mw Mm C R .QQPQ 0.o am... Wemm. m\ um N X n Nk ON Hwy/v@ ATTORN EY Patented Nov. 7, 1933 UNITESTATES PATENT OFFICE 6 Claims.

This invention relates to ventilation equipment and the primary objectis to provide a window ventilator which will, when open, permit of afree supply of Ventilating air to the room,

and which is provided with means, including closable shutters or louversand a mechanism responsive to the action of rain for closing theshutters, so that the ventilator will automatically close the windowopening to prevent any rain water from being blown into the room. Theadvantages and benefits of this construction are particularly of value'in residences where the occupants may be asleep or absent from thepremises during a storm as it will permit of a maximum amount ofventilation at all times and will function to prevent water damage tocurtains, drapes, shades, and carpets that would otherwise be subjectedto. such damage were the windows left open and unattended. The inventioncontemplates the use of both purely mechanical means as well aselectrical devices for effecting the shutter closing action, theelectrical apparatus being employed with preference when a greatersensitiveness of operation is desired, as will hereinafter be described.

In the accompanying drawings, which fully illustrate both of thepreferred forms of the invention- Fig. l is a sectional elevationthrough the ventilator unit, as seen approximately on the line 1 1 inFig. 2, the shutters or louvers being in closed positions.

Fig. 2 is a plan elevation of the device, as seen from its inner cr roomside, fractional portions being broken away for purpose of illustration.This view also shows the shutters as in closed positions.

Fig. 3 is a plan elevation of the lower end of the device, as seen fromthe outer side.

Fig. 4 is a sectional plan view as on the line 4-4 in Fig. 3, this viewalso showing the device as applied to a window frame.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail sectional elevation, similar to the lowerend of Fig. 1, but showing the tripping mechanism set and the shuttersopen.

Figs. 6 and 7 are sectional detail views showing, respectively, the openand closed positions of a ventilator unit embodying the invention butwhich uses only a mechanical trip mechanism as distinguished from theelectric tripping device as illustrated in Figs. l to 5, inclusive.

The structure and function of the apparatus illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5,inclusive, may be de- 5 scribed as follows, the various partsbeingreferred toby the same characters throughout the various views.

The numeral A designates a rectangular frame which is provided at itsends with a pair of extension plates 8 that are slidable'in grooves 9and 60 are spring held outwardly as by springs 10 to effectivelyincrease the length of theirame A, whereby the latter can be releasablysecured between tlie stops l1 of a window frame 12, as shownparticularly in Fig. 4. The springs 10 are 65- secured by pins 13 whichextend through theA end bars of the frame A and terminate in smallfinger pieces 14 which may be grasped and pulled inwardly to retract theplates 8. The plates 8 are further guided in the openings 9 by pins orscrews 70 15 that extend through the end rails of the frame and engagehorizontal slots 16 in the plates 8. When the device is to be secured ina Window frame the plates 8 are first retracted by pulling on themembers 14, and the frame A is then 75. placed between the slots 11under the lower window sash by a back and forth movement, after whichthe knobs 14 are released and the plates 8 are projected by the springs10 so as to engage the window frame and prevent rattling or looseness ofthe frame A in the window frame. After the frame A is thus secured inplace, the sliding sash of the window is then pulled down against theupper rail of the frame A.

The rectangular opening in the frame A is S5 adapted to be closed by aseries of shutters or louvers 17, the upper outer corners of which arepivotally anchored to the frame as at 18. The lower edges of the louvers17 yare provided with inturned fianges 19 adapted to overlap outwardly90 turned anges 20 at the upper edges ofthe adjacent louvers so thatlwhen they ,are closed or in a Vertical position, as shown in Fig. 1,theY flanges 19 and 20 will eiiect a weather-tight joint between each oithe two adjacent louvers. Intermediate the ends of the louvers they areprovided with vertical fins or ears 21 and are all pivoted as at 22 in avertically disposed channel bar 23 which is movable up and down to openand close the shutters, and is normally spring held upwardly as by aspring 24a which connects the channel bar 23 to the upper rail of theframe A so as to constantly create a louver closing action to the bar23.

Pivotally secured to the lower end of the bar 23, as at 24, is a toothedrack bar 25, the lower end of which slidably operates in a hole orperforation 26 in the lower horizontal rail of the frame A. Secured uponthe upper face of the lower rail of the'frame A is a pair of bearing 110brackets 27, one at each side of the rack bar 25, and in these bracketsis pivotally secured, as at 28, a lever 29 which is normally held in anupward position under the action or" a spring 30 so as to engage theteeth of the rack bar 25 to hold the latter down. The lever 29 isprovided at its outer end with a cross bar 3l, which serves as anarmature for a pair of electromagnets 32 secured as at 33 to the inner.face of the lower cross bar of the Yframe A.

A small housing 34 is preferably secured as at,

35 so as to cover and protect the mechanism just described, and isprovided in its upper wall with a hole through which a pin 36 mayproject to manually release the lever 29 from the rack bar25 when it isso desired. It may here also be noted that the channel bar 23 isprovided with a finger piece 37 by which it may be pressed down to openthe louvers 17. The lower horizontal rail of the frame A is providedwith an opening 38 through which extends a lever 39, the inner end ofwhich is provided with a weight 46 and a slightly ileXible spring arm 4lwhich is adapted when the weight end of the lever swings upwardly tocontact with the magnet bracket, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 5,to complete a circuit through the circuit wires 42 and source of current43 to energize the magnets 32. The lever 39 is fulcrumed as at 44 to abracket 45 secured to the frame A, as at 46, and is provided at itsouter end with a drip cup 47. This cup 47 is pivotally secured to thelever 39 as at 48, and when the device is set the cup is held in itsupward position, as shown in Fig. 5, by a link 49, one end or which ispivotally secured to the cup as at 50, while the other end is pivotallysecured as at 5l to a release lever 52, the lower end of which isfulcrumed to the pin 44 and the upper end ci which is provided with ahead 53 preferably made of rubber or some other flexible material.

A guard 54 is arranged around the mechanism 39-52, to protect the sameagainst the elements, and is provided in its upper surface with acentral groove 55 which will direct any water falling upon it into thecup 47, when the latter is raised.

The louvers 17 are each provided with a pair of embossed ribs 56 whichare so arranged that any water falling upon the louvers above these ribswill be directed to central points at the outer edges of the louvers,and will dropirom these points of discharge into the cup 47 which isdisposed directly vertical therebelow.

The-operation of the device as thus described may be set forth as`follows:

With the unit in place under a window sash, and with the circuit wires42 connected to a Ybattery or wall receptacle, the operator has only ltopush the hand member 37 down to open the louvers and set the automatictrip. The action stated operates through the elements 23, 22, 2l,

.and 16 to swing tie louvers into-their outward or open position, asshown in Fig. 5, and also to releasably secure them in this positionthrough the action of the latch mechanism 2li-39. With the louvers intheir open positions the tripV arm head 53 is released from thelowermost louver, and when thus released will be moved outwardly underthe ac ion of a spring 57 (Fig. 5), which may be conveniently formed asan outer extension vof the spring finger 4l, and this action'restores oractuates the cup 47 to its upright or drip receiving position, as shown.

With the device set in the manner immediately above referred to, theoccupants of the building can safely retire or leave the premiseswithout fearing damage by inblown water. A relatively light rainfallwill soon result in a sufficient accumulation of water in the cup 47 tocause it to overbalance the weight 40 at the other end of the lever 39,and as soon as this lever tilts sufficiently to cause a contact betweenthe nger 4l and the magnet bracket a current will be caused to flowthrough the magnet circuit to energize the magnets and cause a pull. onthe armature bar 3l to trip lever 29 and release the rack bar 25,whereupon the spring 24 will supplement the weight or" the shutters tocause them to snap closed. The lowermost shutter or louver then engagesthe resilient head 53 to move the members 52 and 49 into the positionshown in Fig. l. This .action empties the cup 47 (and prevents it frombeing refilled until the device is again set), and also acts through thespring 57 to restore the inner end of the lever 39 to its initialposition so that the electric contact by the ringer 4l will be 4brokento thus out off the current supply immediately after its worl; is done.

The modiiicaticn or" the invention, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7,contemplates a louver closing device that is purely mechanical in itsnature and is particularly desirable where a convenient current supplyis not available. In this instance the trip mechanism is obviously notas sensitive as where magnetic pull is utilized and consequently thedrip cups, 58, are preferably made somewhat larger as a greater waterweight is required to overcome the resistance of the louver holdingdevice.

The cup 58 is pivotally secured, as at 59, to the outer end of a lever60, fulcrumed as at 61. The inner end of the lever has a short angulararm 62 that is connected by a link 63 to the latch 64 that is fulcrumedAas at 65 for engagement with the rack bar 25. The friction between thelatch 64 and the engaged tooth of the rack bar 25 is sufii- 1 cientlygreat to maintain the cup in its raised position when empty. To effectthe desired emptying of the cup after the trip has been made, I tiltablymaintain it by a link 66 upon which a spring 67 exerts a pull. Alever68, similar to 52, is fulcrumed to the lever 60, as at 69, and has abumper head 70 at its upper end, while its lower end is pivoted to theinner end of a link 66, as at 71. The operation of the cup emptyingdevice, as just described, is substantially similar to that shown 1 inFigs. l and 5, and will doubtless be understood from an inspection ofFigs. 6 and 7 where the two positions of the mechanism are illustrated.

It is understood that suitable modifications may be made in thestructure as disclosed, pro- 13() vided such modications come within thespirit and scope of the appended claims. Having now therefore fullyillustrated and described my invention, what I claim to be new anddesire to protect by Letters Patent is: 1. g

1. A ventilator'comprising a rectangular frame having one or more hingedlouvers for closing the opening thereof, a drip cup arranged between thelateral limits of and under the louvers for receiving rain Waterdraining therefrom when the latter are in open position, and a springactuated mechanism adapted to be tripped by the weight of the drip cupwhen it has received a predetermined amount of water to eiect a closingaction of the louvers.

2. A ventilator comprising a rectangular frame having one or more hingedlouvers for closing the opening thereof, a drip cup arranged directlyunder the louvers for receiving rain water draining therefrom when thelatter are in open position, l

and a mechanism adapted to be actuated by the Weight of the drip cupWhen it has received a predetermined amount of water to eiect a closingaction of the louvers, said mechanism including a tiltable lever forsupporting thefcup, and means operative by a tilting action of the leverto effect said louver closing action.

3. A ventilator comprising a rectangular frame having one or more hingedlouvers for closing the opening thereof, a drip cup for receiving rainWater draining from the louvers when the latter are in open position,and a mechanism adapted to be actuated by the Weight of the drip cupwhen it has received a predetermined amount of Water to effect a closingaction of the louvers, said mechanism including a tiltable lever forsupporting the cup, a magnet arranged to eiect the louver closingaction, and means operative upon tilting of the lever to close a circuitthrough the magnet.

4. The combination with an openable ventilatoi` shutter, of a drip cuparranged in a receiving position with respect to the shutter when thelatter is open, means tending to close the shutter, releasable means forholding the shutter open, and means adapted to be actuated by the dripcup when the latter has received a predetermined amount of Water torelease the said holding means to permit the shutter to close, said dripcup being tiltably supported, and means, operative upon a closing actionof the shutter, to tilt the drip cup to empty the same.

5. A ventilator comprising a rectangular frame, a shutter plate hingedlysecured to the frame, means for releasably securing the shutter in aninclined open position, means on the upper surface of the shutter platefor directing vsurface Water to a certain point of discharge, a dripVcup arranged under said point of discharge, and means adapted to beactuated by the cup for releasing the shutter securing means.

6. A ventilator comprising a rectangular frame, a shutter plate hingedlysecured to the frame, means for releasably securing the shutter in aninclined open position, means on the upper surface of the shutter platefor directing surface Water to a certain point of discharge, a drip cuparranged under said point of discharge, and means adapted to be actuatedby the cup for releasing the shutter securing means, said surface waterdirecting means comprising a pair of converging ribs extendingdiagonally over the upper surface of the plate.

CARL O. SWANSON.

